Yvonne Desharnais, 100, of Salem and Bedford, NH passed away on January 28, 2020 at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH surrounded by family.
Born on November 18, 1919 in Nievre, Nevers, France, she was the daughter of Louis and Jeanne (Dufond) Lavallee. She came to America in November of 1920 and had her first birthday aboard the ship.
She attended schools in Lawrence, MA and later met Emile Desharnais whom she married in 1939 until his death in 1995. She worked as a stitcher in local factories until her retirement in 1981.
Yvonne moved to Salem NH in 1980 where she remained a resident until 2014. There she was a member of the Salem Seniors, Salem Women's Club and the National Association of Senior friends (in Derry, NH). She was also an active member of the Salem Widow and Widowers club where she met Earl Hazel who remained her dear friend until his passing. She later moved to Ridgewood Nursing Home in Bedford, NH where she resided for the last 5 years.
She loved taking trips with her friends, dancing, crocheting, reading and listening to audio books, music, and various forms of exercise. She crocheted many sweater sets for great-grandchildren and afghans for fund raisers and charities.
She loved her family with all her heart. She is predeceased by her husband, Emile Desharnais, her sons Rodger and Rene Desharnais, her daughter Elaine Byron and her son-in-law James Byron. She is also predeceased by her siblings, Jeanette Gallagher and her husband Laurence, Loretta Cox and her husband Russell, Louis Lavallee and his wife Anna and Eugene Lavallee and his wife Marion. She is survived by her daughters-in-law Phyllis Desharnais and Linda Desharnais, as well as her 11 grandchildren, Rhonda Porier, Erica Gunn, John Desharnais, David Desharnais, Lisa Ireson, Kelley Williams, Dennis Desharnais, Kimberly Papik, Marie Desharnais, Judith Trienti and James Byron. She is also survived by 23 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Family and friends are invited to visiting hours on Monday February 3, 2020 from 9 am to 11 am at the Goundrey & Dewhirst Funeral Home, 42 Main St., Salem, NH. A Funeral Mass will follow the visitation on Monday at 11:30am in St Matthew Church, 2 Searles Rd., Windham, NH. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Andover. To leave an online condolence, please visit Yvonne’s tribute page at www.goundreydewhirstfuneral.com.
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